Skinplant (Into the Storm)

By JasonAP, in Rogue Trader

Into the Storm page 138 has the skinplant which can replicate simple things like id chips, chronos, lights.

It also says that good and best quality versions are more detailed and complex devices at the GM's discretion.

What are the most useful and interesting best quality skinplants you have seen, used, or thought up that are still reasonably a skinplant? I was thinking/hoping to get one that can function as a calculance array, but I don't know if that would even be logical.

Skinplant-Salvation Augur ( Inquisitor's Handbook , pg. 127)

It would probably be a good idea to know when you're walking into radition or corrosive pollution. Better yet, to have that information literally "at hand".

That's a great idea, but not something my Seneschal would probably use all the time. If there's a chance of radiation, someone lesser will be out ahead with the augur.

Have you considered making the skinplant a small data-slate? People in this millenium would love to have an implanted Ipad. In fact, if you have a skinplant and a Mind Impulse Unit, it is entirely possible to interface with a tool such as an auspex or a calculance array and record the information on the data-slate.

For example, you've taken incriminating photos of a nobleman you wish to blackmail, but the camera has been confiscated by an Arbites. If you've hidden the skinplant, the photos could be secretly recorded and you could deliver the evidence even without the negatives from the pict-recorder.

Edited by jabberwoky

Have you considered making the skinplant a small data-slate? People in this millenium would love to have an implanted Ipad. In fact, if you have a skinplant and a Mind Impulse Unit, it is entirely possible to interface with a tool such as an auspex or a calculance array and record the information on the data-slate.

For example, you've taken incriminating photos of a nobleman you wish to blackmail, but the camera has been confiscated by an Arbites. If you've hidden the skinplant, the photos could be secretly recorded and you could deliver the evidence even without the negatives from the pict-recorder.

Wait, your pict-recorder records a digital version that you can send and makes a negative? It's a digital camera with film!? What purpose could that possibly serve except as a decoy-

...

Genius!

Wait, your pict-recorder records a digital version that you can send and makes a negative? It's a digital camera with film!? What purpose could that possibly serve except as a decoy-

...

Genius!

In the grim darkness of the far future, even digital cameras have negatives...

Edited by jabberwoky

What are the most useful and interesting best quality skinplants you have seen, used, or thought up that are still reasonably a skinplant? I was thinking/hoping to get one that can function as a calculance array, but I don't know if that would even be logical.

I'd say RAW state a Calculance Array isn't technically possible since it's described as "...a noisy, man-sized stack of chugging, promethium-fueled rod-cogitators...", however as a GM I'd allow it. It may be ever so slightly heretical to whittle that down into a electoo sized digital mechanism but definitly not undoable.

Other Options

Diagnostor - A must have for the hypocondriac on the go

Non-launching Grapnel (Magnetic)/Magboots - All the wall crawling of a mutant with none of the heresy

Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom - A holographic librarium at your fingertips

Mefonte's Orthodoxy - Nothing says pious like a permanently afixed, holographic pennon of scripture

Multikey - Just knock

Multicompass - Never be lost again

Stummer - Sneak sneak sneak

Gravity Generator - Seriously, try and stop thinking of ways to have fun with these

What are the most useful and interesting best quality skinplants you have seen, used, or thought up that are still reasonably a skinplant? I was thinking/hoping to get one that can function as a calculance array, but I don't know if that would even be logical.

I'd say RAW state a Calculance Array isn't technically possible since it's described as "...a noisy, man-sized stack of chugging, promethium-fueled rod-cogitators...", however as a GM I'd allow it. It may be ever so slightly heretical to whittle that down into a electoo sized digital mechanism but definitly not undoable.

Other Options

Diagnostor - A must have for the hypocondriac on the go

Non-launching Grapnel (Magnetic)/Magboots - All the wall crawling of a mutant with none of the heresy

Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom - A holographic librarium at your fingertips

Mefonte's Orthodoxy - Nothing says pious like a permanently afixed, holographic pennon of scripture

Multikey - Just knock

Multicompass - Never be lost again

Stummer - Sneak sneak sneak

Gravity Generator - Seriously, try and stop thinking of ways to have fun with these

I'm sure there was a discussion back in 3rd ed (possibly/probably older) of skinplants being used for couriers and senior diplomats- data storage devices being buried in the palms of their hands and set to exchange data when sufficiently close to another. That way any messages that you wanted sent clandestinely would be done by handshake- doesn't matter if the meeting is watched like a hawk, and both parties are searched beforehand, you still get the message through.

Sounds fair enough. Ultimately, any cogitator-type technology can be made small enough that it could be fitted into a discrete implant. The cost, on the other hand, becomes more and more exorbitant the smaller you want it, to the point where an implanted cogitator with serious processing/data storage capability for your militant is doable but would essentially bankroll a small Mechanicus Demense for a year.

The question then becomes, why not just have minions with the full-sized device?

Smuggling-related or survival=related items make the most sense, I think.

Ultimately, any cogitator-type technology can be made small enough that it could be fitted into a discrete implant.

I may be mistaken but isn't a cogitator a physical gear of some sort? If so then a Skinplant would not be an option. Do they just use "cogitator" to describe any and all internal mechanisms, both electric and mechanical? I'm not horribly familiar with 40K fluff so I would not be surprised if I'm way off base but I always assumed a cogitator was a physical gear or mechanical mechanism of some sort whereas a machine spirit was computer code or circuit boards.

What are the most useful and interesting best quality skinplants you have seen, used, or thought up that are still reasonably a skinplant? I was thinking/hoping to get one that can function as a calculance array, but I don't know if that would even be logical.

I'd say RAW state a Calculance Array isn't technically possible since it's described as "...a noisy, man-sized stack of chugging, promethium-fueled rod-cogitators...", however as a GM I'd allow it. It may be ever so slightly heretical to whittle that down into a electoo sized digital mechanism but definitly not undoable.

Other Options

Diagnostor - A must have for the hypocondriac on the go

Non-launching Grapnel (Magnetic)/Magboots - All the wall crawling of a mutant with none of the heresy

Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom - A holographic librarium at your fingertips

Mefonte's Orthodoxy - Nothing says pious like a permanently afixed, holographic pennon of scripture

Multikey - Just knock

Multicompass - Never be lost again

Stummer - Sneak sneak sneak

Gravity Generator - Seriously, try and stop thinking of ways to have fun with these

I'm starting to feel like the next step is Skinplant Stasis Pods and Hab Bases.

I'd say RAW state a Calculance Array isn't technically possible since it's described as "...a noisy, man-sized stack of chugging, promethium-fueled rod-cogitators...", however as a GM I'd allow it. It may be ever so slightly heretical to whittle that down into a electoo sized digital mechanism but definitly not undoable.

What are the most useful and interesting best quality skinplants you have seen, used, or thought up that are still reasonably a skinplant? I was thinking/hoping to get one that can function as a calculance array, but I don't know if that would even be logical.

Other Options

Diagnostor - A must have for the hypocondriac on the go

Non-launching Grapnel (Magnetic)/Magboots - All the wall crawling of a mutant with none of the heresy

Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom - A holographic librarium at your fingertips

Mefonte's Orthodoxy - Nothing says pious like a permanently afixed, holographic pennon of scripture

Multikey - Just knock

Multicompass - Never be lost again

Stummer - Sneak sneak sneak

Gravity Generator - Seriously, try and stop thinking of ways to have fun with these

I think there's a lot of misunderstanding in this thread as to what a Skinplant is. A Skinplant is similar to an Electoo, electoos basically being electrical/luminary tattoos. A skinplant is like a subdermal device that shines on or through the skin. This means that you can have a PDA-like device literally in the palm of your hand, or a lamplight shining from your fingertips or a multicompass on top of your fist.

Stummers, Gravity Generators, Diagnostor (other than possibly showing your own status, which could be useful...), Grapnel... wow, just.. no. I'm not saying you can't have these things in your games, I really love some of the ideas, and I could really see someone having a long wire coming out of his arm when necessary, completely concealed.

But it's not a Skinplant.

And a Gravity Generator? Do you have any idea how much those things weigh and how big they are? To have one implanted underneath your skin is.. beyond Dark Age of Technology. It's beyond bloody Necrons.

LOL It was some awesome ideas though. I was enjoying how far they were going with it. Some of them are quite creative and could reasonably be allowed into a game.

My understanding of an Electoo is that it’s a miniaturized electronic device composed of circuits and crystalline technology that can duplicate any number of single purpose electronic devices, with GM approval. Perhaps I went a bit overboard by suggesting a personal gravity generator, obviously not a full power one, but the thought was too amusing not to post.

If you reread my list you’ll see that the grapnel states non-firing, meaning it’s simply an electromagnetic implant under the skin allowing the user to climb on metallic surfaces. Now the multikey really depends on what the GM envisions one as; I imagined it as an electronic hacking device that would override door and numerical locks. Also, if we’re assuming its functional limitations as data storage and illumination it’s still completely acceptable to add a personal diagnostor, Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom and Mefonte's Orthodoxy to the list including a data slate and multicompass. However, this is all simply my $.02 and YMMV.

Edited by Ale Golem

I would pay good money for a Skinplant Meltabomb. Gotta one-up those darn Tau battlesuits somehow.

My understanding of an Electoo is that it’s a miniaturized electronic device composed of circuits and crystalline technology that can duplicate any number of single purpose electronic devices, with GM approval. Perhaps I went a bit overboard by suggesting a personal gravity generator, obviously not a full power one, but the thought was too amusing not to post.

If you reread my list you’ll see that the grapnel states non-firing, meaning it’s simply an electromagnetic implant under the skin allowing the user to climb on metallic surfaces. Now the multikey really depends on what the GM envisions one as; I imagined it as an electronic hacking device that would override door and numerical locks. Also, if we’re assuming its functional limitations as data storage and illumination it’s still completely acceptable to add a personal diagnostor, Hadd-Pattern Data-Loom and Mefonte's Orthodoxy to the list including a data slate and multicompass. However, this is all simply my $.02 and YMMV.

Oh, when you said grapnel, I still thought of it as an actual grapnel. I love the idea of a Skinplant that would give you climb-bonuses on metallic surfaces. That's just golden. The electronic multikey is also completely reasonable in my mind, although I'd probably require a Calculus Logi implant or similar to give it proper function, or maybe just add a bonus if you have both.. or somesuch. But that's just my thoughts if I were a GM.

Either way, it's gold.